Cover grip



May 8, 1923. l

' J. lAs' HAGERsTRoM CVR GRIP Fild Apr. i?, 1922 Patented May 8, 1923.

JOHN A. HAGESTROM, OF CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY.

oovnn eran.` i 5:5.

Application filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 554,239. l

To all 207mm t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HAGnRsTRoM, a resident of Cranford, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cover Grips, of which the following is a e specification.

This invention relates to lifters for lids and it more kespecially appertains to a manipulating appendage for covers and the like, made of different material from the latter.

The main object of the invention is to provide an article of the character described, capable of being molded into yor embraced Y by the seal of a container, and also used as a means for removing and replacing the same.

'n Another object is to produce an article of the nature set forth, particularly adaptable for use as a finger grip in conjunction with a paraffin Aclosure over a vglass of jelly, not only without interfering with the primary sealing function thereof, but enabling also this seal, after it has once been opened, to be utilized as a lid for the glass.

A further object' is the production of an article of the type specified, which after the parati-in lid associated therewith has served its purpose can be separated from it, and again applied t-'o another covering seal, for further service.

Still another object is the provision in an article of the class mentioned, of means combined therewith. for holding a label or other device, whereon may be denoted the contents of the receptacle with which the same cooperates. Y

A still further object is to furnish a practical article of the kind referred to, composed of few, simple parts, light but strong and durable, readily applied or removed, convenient to handle, safe and sanitary to use,l besides amenable to low cost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

lith the'aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their lpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the saine reference characters throughout the `several views.

The usual way of removing a paraiiin cover seal from the top of a jelly jar, glass or receptacles for other preserves, is to press down with a thin bladed knife where the paraffin adheres to the walls of the container,

all around thelatter, and then try to pry up the seal cover. This procedure not only frequently cracks or breaks up the seal in pieces, making the same unfit for-further use, but very often a thin ledge or crust of the paraffin becomes stuck to the glass or jar. In view of the loathsome appearance of these remnants, an attempt is made usually to dislodge the same. However, the general outcome of such efforts is, that the loosened pieces of the paralin fall into .the jelly and must be scooped out withda spoon, when in order to remove all of the fragments it is unavoidable to simultaneously take up appreciable quantities and even as much as a whole layer of the jelly. Obviously this occasions loss of time and patience beside waste of the receptacles contents. Moreover, recourse'must be. had 'to another cover for the jelly glass, and it is a common occurrence to see a small dish, suchv as a saucer, employed for the purpose.v But as this combination hardly enhances the aesi thetic appearance of a well-set table, the jelly container with itsv makeshift cover, is ordinarily brought in only as wanted and then carried out at each meal. The several disadvantages above discussed resulting from the old fashioned method of opening up and removing a paraffin seal cover of the class referred to1 as also "from the subsequent handling thereof, are overcome by the present invention.

Generally described. the article under consideration includes in its organization a carrying or base member designed'for superimposition upon or over the matter to be protected by a sealing substance. and adapted to be molded into or under the latter. From this member extends up an element constituting a manipulating grip for, yand located ata higher level than the member and the thereby carried sealing substance. The seal-carryingy article. when .'once removed from the matter which it protects, affords a replaceable cover for the container thereof,

whilethe member coacting with the cover provides a reinforcement therefor. Means combined with the article are capable ofl becoming conversant with the details there- I de aositinof the latter. 4which ma f be `comof, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing,therefore. is submitted merely as showing the preferred exempliications of the invention.

ln the said drawing Figure l is a top plan view of a jelly.

glass `with its sealing cover, showing one type of the present article applied thereto;

Fig.' Il is a central section taken vertically thru the parts illustrated by the preceding figure, a portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. Ill is a detached top plan view of the preferred form of the invention;

Fig. IV is a vvertical section taken centrally thru the last named iigure, and further shows in d'ot-and-dash lines a label device carried by the said article;

Fig. V is an end view of the same form of the invention looking from the ,right hand side of the two latter views;

Fig. Vl is a detached top plan view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. Vll is a central longitudinal section of the form of the invention shown by Fig. Vl, looking up from the lower edge of the latter; and

F ig, Vlll is a perspective view of another modification cf the present invention. also showing the lower portion of the said device.

Referring now to these views for a detailed description of the invention exemplified, the known parts of a container and its seal wherewith this lifter coacts, have been designated by reference letters instead of numerals, as used to denote the present irn- "provements, since the said parts are not claimed as pertaining to the latter, except in so far asthey may formvtherewith legitimate combinations of elements capable of yielding novel and useful results.

Ofthese reference letters, A denotes a container which may be a glass ar or other receptacle suitable for holding elly or other substances as at B, and adapted to be covered by a sealing material C. Prior to posed of paraffin, wax or like materials capable of being molded, or immediately after a thin layer of the same has been poured upon the contents B in the receptacle A, the improved grip or lifter is positioned approximately in the middle thereover.

As will be noticed from all of the views on the accompanying drawing, the cover lifter forming the subject matter hereof, includes a base or carrying member, which in its simplest form, shown in Figs. l and ll,

is designated by the numeral 11, and mav be of circular or any 'other desired outline. Extending up approximately from the centre of this member, is a manipulating element or knob 13 wherewith the lifter in its entirety can be handled. rlhe said grip element may be included within a substantially semi-circular portion 15 produced by slitting the base 11 and leaving a similarly shaped opening therein. rlhe ear thus forming the element 13, is then bent upwardly from opposite points 16, 17, where the slitterminates, which points are located 'on a line passing diametrically thru the base member. As indicated at 19, a hole may be provided in the ear knob 13, in order to enhance the facility of gripping the same.

After the jelly in the glass has congealed, the base of the lifter is placed on it and molten parain is poured thereover, covering the same and the jellys top surface for a depth of about an eighth of an inch or so. lt will be understood, rthat the fused parafin*l wax or other sealing material employed, flows thru the opening in thel member left by the -ear 13, and all around the base of the latter in'such a way as to firmly anchor the lifter in the seal. proper, and at the same time serve to exclude the air from the jelly, in the usual manner, lVhen it is desired to reach the contents of the glass or jar for the first time, subsequent to the hardening of the paratlin, it is an easy matter to press around. the edges of the covering seal so as to loosen it from the inside walls of the container. Then by gripping the upstanding 13 between the lingers and lifting thereon, the conjoined paraflin seal andbase 11 which acts as a carrier therefor, will readily come ott' or out of the glass. Upon removal et the required quantity of jelly or preserves from the container glass, the covering seal can be replaced as often as wanted. By merely putting the cover seals with the molded-in lifters intohot water, or otherwise heating them, the cover lifters are quickly detached and can be saved or reclaimed so as to enable them to. be rused over.l andover again for several seasons.

ln the preferred embodiment of the invention represented. by Figs. 1H to Vpas veil as inthe remaining views of the iannexed drawing, the .parts substantially the equivalent of v'those already: described, are designated by the same referencevcharacters to which letter exponents are sufixed. Thus 11n is the base member, 13a the ear element, and 15d the slitted opening in the base providing the latter. Besides the aforementioned opening 15, another slit 21 is formed inthe member 11a but in opposed offset relation to the former. As will be noted, the latter named slit 21 is of smaller size and consequently the supplemental ear 22 produced thereby is also of less dimension than the central, main or gripping-ear 3a. When the smaller'ear 22 is bent up parallel to the companion element 13a, the former is made to stand a short distance away from the latter so that a gap 23 is left therebetween. This gap provides a receiver or holder for a card or other label device D. An appropriate description pertaining' to the nature and contentsv of the Vreceptacle can conveniently be denoted on the card entered into the said holder gap 23. The paraffin that is molded around the base member, will also serve to anchor the label D in its assigned position. It is obvious that vsuch a label can also be inserted, if so desired into the hole 19 of the ear 13 shown by Fig. II. lith the obj ectof making the manipulating grip less liable to slip between the fingers of the person handling it, the same may be provided with bead-like protuberances 25 struck up on both sides of the said element 13a. The two types of lifters previously disclosed may conveniently be punched from thin plate aluminum, or other sheet metal that is given a protective coating` of tin, either of which is sanitary and not appre ciably affected by preserves in general. However, to make them absolutely hygienic, the base member and part of the grip element can be dipped in melted paraiiin and then cooled off.y prior to placing the lifters on top of the edibles stored in the receptacles therefor. It will be observed that as shown at 26 the lower edges of the ear 13a are undercut, in order to enable them to more readily leave the sides of the opening 15a during the bending operation.

Referring to the construction depicted by Figs. VI and VII, the former view illustrates the base member 11b and ear element 13b of the lifter as lying down iiatwise in one plane, prior tothe element being bent upwardly from the slit 15b, that severs it from the said member. As will be noticed, the ends of this slit are continued beyond a line 27 upon which the ear 13b is folded to an erect posture and form horns or retainers 29, 30, one on each edge of the said ear. rl`hese retainers are provided with inwardly facing lips or abutments 31, 32, respectively, which are designed to take around the far side of the upstanding ear, with regard to their location relatively to the latter, as will be seen to best advantage inIfig. VII. The arrangement just described, is especially adaptable' when vthe 'lifter is made of paper, which incidentally should be tough and strong, preferably of a variety reinforced by fabric. The retainers with their abutments coact to prevent the ear' grip from springing back, 'particularly atV suchv times as the hot paraffin is poured `around the same. In connection with this type of lifter,l it is apparent, that as it is made of paper, the inscription pertaining to the species of the goods to which the same-is applied, can be made directly thereon, whereby a separate label is dispensedA with.

In the modified form of the invention ie'p` resented by Fig. VIII, the lifter is shown as consisting of a piece of wire or strip niaterial, bent to include a base member in the f horizontal plane, and an ear element subi' stantially perpendicular thereto.y .The ,base

member comprises the endwportionsfllc and i 11d of the wire, which are oppositely disposed and as shown, can be of open hook formation. The ear vor grip element rises from the intermediate part of the wire', and

is wound to form practically a pair of convolutions 13c and 13d, which may be spaced or forced apart to receive between them a card or label D1.

Altho this device has been described as relating principally to means for lifting seal-covers of containers, it is obvious that the same can equally as well be used to ldislodge such or similar closures, by forcing the latter downwardly instead, if properly anchored thereto, and the circumstances adnv mit thereof.

While certain preferred embodimentsofthis device have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, without. de4

parting from the scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

Having described my invention `what I desire to secure by Letters Patent `and claim, is

1. An article of the character described i comprising in combination with a container and the covering-seal therefor, a base member arranged to reinforce the seal, and an element constituting a. grip for the latter extending from said member.

2. An article of the character described comprising in combination with a container constituting a grip therefor and theconlli) .and the covering-seal therefor, a disc shaped member adapted to be embedded in the sealingsubstance, an ear like element slitted from said member, being bent up at sub- .stantially right angles' thereto, and antislipping means formed With said element.

6. An article of the character described comprising in combination with a container and the covering-seal therefor, a member adapted .to be grasped for the major part thereof by the'sealing substance, an element constituting a grip for the conjoined inemv` ber and seal, and a supplementary element coacting with said grip element to provide a label holder.

7. An article of the character described comprising in combination with a container and the covering-seal therefor, a reinforcing member for the seal, and elements extending in spaced relation from said member forming between them a label holder, one of said elements serving as a grip for the conjoined member and seal.

8. An article of the character described comprising in combination with a container and the covering-seal therefor, a member adapted to be surrounded by the substance forming the seal, an element rising from said `member constituting a grip therefor and the thereby carried seal, and projections provided near the upper portion of said element serving to increase the gripping surface thereof.

JOHN A. HAGERSTROM. 

